Connecter for electrical conductors



June 10, 1930. P. F. WILLIAMS 1,763,623

CONNECTER FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed Jan. 8, 1921 ZZZ/16551 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 PAUL I. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G & W ELECTRIC SPECIALTY CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CONNECTER FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS My invention relates to connectors for electrical conductors, and particularly to a form of connecter commonly known as a pothead.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and practical form of electrical connecter, particularly of the type specified.

Another object of the invention is to improve the metallic connecting devices by which connection is made between the con necter conductors.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the quick and ready assembling of such connecting devices and the other internal parts of the device, and also to permit the ready disassembling of the same.

Another object of the invention is to dispense with the use of screws and similar objectionable devices in connection with the 2 various parts or members which are to be assembled.

Another object of the invention is to simplify its construction, permitting it to be more easily handled and also reducing the cost of manufacture.

Another objectof the invention is to secure the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanyin drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a connecter for electrical conductors embodying my present invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross sections taken respectively on lines 22, 3-3 and 44 in as Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings I show a connecter for electrical conductors of the pothead type embodying a lower or body memher 1 and an upper or cap member 2. Both of these members are preferably made of porcelain or some suitable insulating material and the body member 1 is substantially tubular in form and the cap 2 is adapted to fit over and upon the upper end of the same.

The body member 1 is adapted to receive the end of a cable 3 and the cap 2 is adapted to receive the end of an overhead conductor 4, and the device as a whole isprovided with connecting means forming a separable metalhe connection by which when the cap 2 is in position on the body member 1 the electrical circuit will be closed through the cable 3 and conductor 4, but when the cap 2 is removed, said electrical circuit will be opened.

To such end the body member 1 and cap 2 are provided with interiorly arranged separable metallic contacts or connecting devices having certain features of advantage and embodying my present invention.

The connecting device or means for the body member 1 comprises a metallic member 5 made generally cylindrical and tubular in form with its lower end (5 provided with a socket adapted to receive the end 7 of the cable 3. The upper portion of this member 5 is provided with another and a longer socket 8 adapted to receive a metallic plug member 9 forming part of the connecting device of the cap 2. The arrangement is such that the plug member 9 by its insertion into and withdrawal from the socket 8 serves to make and break the electrical connection between the two connectors attached to the device.

As an arrangement for holding the socket member 5 in position, said member is provided with laterally projecting lugs or wings 10 which are arranged to fit underneath and against an annular shoulder 11 formed on the member 1, whereby a limit is placed on the upward movement of said member 5 and its attached cable 3. An upper portion 12 of said member 5 is made polygonal, as for example, being made hexagonal, as shown in Fig. 3. This portion cooperates with a ring or nut 13, having a corresponding polygonal socket to receive the portion 12. This nut or washer 13 is arranged within a recess or cavity 16 formed in the upper part. of the body 1, and is provided with downwardly extend-- ing prongs or lugs 17 which fit in narrow recesses 18 extending down from the main recess 16. Preferably there are two prongs 17 and two recesses 18 therefor. By this arrangement the washer or ring 13 is held against rotation when the prongs 17 are in the recesses 18, but rotation is permitted when said washer 13 is lifted so that the prongs 17 move out from the recesses 18 into the recess 16. Thus when the hexagonal portion 12 engages the washer or ring 13 and the latter is held against rotation by its prongs 17, said portion 12 and consequently the member are also held against rotation. The member 5 above the hexagonal portion 12 is screw threaded as at 20, and on this screw threaded end is titted another ring or washer 21 which may be adjusted up and down by turning on said threaded portion 20. Said washer or ring 21 is provided with convenient means for rotation, as for example, by providing it with upwardly extending prongs 22, between which are spaces 23-23, the latter being adapted to receive the prongs of a wrench which may be fitted therein and manipulated so as to turn said member 21. A packing washer 24 is preterably inserted between the members 13 and 21. Thus if the member 21 is secured so as to cause or tend to cause its downward movement on the threaded end 20, there would also be a tendency to lift the member 5 and consequently the member 21 will move downwardly and the member 5 will move upwardly so that the wings or lugs of the member 5 will be drawn tightly against the shoulder 11 and the member 21 will be screwed down tightly upon the packing 24, thereby holding the member 5 firmly and securely in place, and also clamping the packing 24 tightly so as to make a close and firm packing joint between the member 5 and the walls of the porcelain body member 1.

Another ring or member 25 is preferably placed upon the top of the threaded end 20, said member 25 being also screw threaded so that it may be screwed down on the top of the portion and being also provided with an inwardly extending flange 26 adapted to fit down on the top of the portion 20. This ring or member serves as a removable end or portion of the member 5, and so receives whatever burning or damaging effect there maybe by the spark caused by the separation of the terminals 9 and 5. Being removable,

the ring 25, which may be called the arcing ring, may be removed when worn or burnt out and another one may be put in its place. The arcing ring 25 is preferably provided with v convenient means for turning it to put it in its proper place and remove it therefrom, as for example by providing its top flange with apertures 27-27, in which the prongs or pins of a wrench may be inserted.

The cap 2 is provided with a pin or shank 30 having a screw threaded end 31 on which is fitted the screw threaded member 9 previously referred to as forming a metallic terminal for the overhead conductor 4, and adapted to fit in the socket 8 in the upper port-ion of the lower or cable terminal member 5. The pin or shank 30 is provided with an enlargement or head 32 which fits in a recess or chamber in the upper end of the cap A metallic washer 33 and a metallic nut 31 are preferably arranged on the-member 30 above the upper end of the member 9. The nut 34 is preferably constructed with a downwardly extending flange 36 adapted to fit against the upper end of the member 9 and within the central aperture of the flange 215 on the arcing ring 25.

The body 1 and cap 2 are preferably provided with suitable compound or insulating material by which the various parts may be suitably insulated or sealed. Such insulating compound is shown at 36 in the body member 1, filling substantially the entire inner chamber of the body member below the holding ring 13. Such compound or insulating material is also shown at 37 in the recess or chamber in the upper portion of the cap 2.

The lower end of the body member 1 is also preferably provided with a closure, as for example, the plug 38 having a tapering or cone shaped end 39 adapted to flt in the lower end of the body member 1 and preferably pro vided with an annular ring 40 of rubber or other suitable insulating material to -fit against the lower edge of the member 1.

In using the device the overhead conductor may be properly secured as by soldering to the terminal member 32, and then the insulating material 37 put in place. In the body member the cable will be first partially stripped as shown, and then its end 7 secured as by soldering in the socket in the end 6 of the member 5, and then the ring 13 put in place and the member 5 drawn into such position that its polygonal portion 12 engages the correspondingly shaped openingof the ring 13. Then the washer 24 is put in place and then the ring 21 screwed down so as to clamp the washer 24 firmly in position and also draw the member 5 up against the stop or shoulder 11, and thereby hold said member firmly in position. The arcing ring 25 is then screwed down over the top of the threaded portion 20. The compound or insulating material 36 has previously been poured into the interior chamber of the member 1 and after the plug 38 has been jammed into place. The members 1 and 2 are then in condition to be fitted together and this is done by placing the cap 2 over the top of the body 1 so that the plug terminal 9 will fit into the socket terminal 5 and thereby close the electrical circuit between the two conductors 3 and 4. To open the circuit the cap 2 is lifted from the body member 1.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim is: v

1. The combination with an outer casing and aconductor terminal arranged therein, of means for preventing rotation on the part of the terminal relatively to the casing comprising a removable member surrounding and engaging the terminal and extending along the wall of the casing and engaging the same, said member and terminal having cooperating abutments to prevent rotation on the part of the terminal.

2. The combination of an outer casing and a terminal therein and means for holding the terminal against rotation within the casing comprising a removable ring surrounding the terminal and interposed between the same and the walls of the casing, saidvrin terminal and casing having coo )erating s oulders by which the terminal is eld against rotation. I

3. The combination of an outer casing arul a terminal therein and means for holding the terminal against rotation within the casing comprising a removable ring surrounding the terminal and interposedbetween the same and the walls of the casing, said ring having a polygonal aperture and the terminal having a polygonal portion adapted to fit in said aperture, and said casing and ring hav ing cooperatin shoulders.

4. The combination of an outer casing and a terminal therein and means for holding the terminal against rotation within the casing cmnprisil'ig a loose ring surrounding the terminal and interposed between the same and the walls of the casing, said ring having a polygonal aperture and the terminal having a polygonal portion adapted to fit in said aperture, and said casing and ring having cooperating shoulders formed by projections on the ring and recesses in the casing adapted to receive said projections.

5. The combination with a tubular casing made of insulating material, a metallic terminal arranged longitudinally therein, said terminal having a polygonal portion, a loose ring surrounding said terminal and having a polygonal aperture adapted to receive said terminal, said ring having laterally extending legs or project-ions and said casing having a recess adapted to receive said ring and supplemental recesses adapted to receive and fits-aid legs or projections.

6. The combination of a tubular insulator, a metallic terminal therein, shoulders on the insulator and terminal for preventing the outer movement of the terminal, means for preventing rotation on the part of the terminal comprising a ring engaging the termmal and the casing and means for drawing upon the terminal comprising an annular member having a threaded engagement with the outer end of the terminal, and packing between said ring and annular member.

7. The combination of a tubular insulator, a metallic terminal extending longitudinally therein and having a socket, shoulders on said terminal and on said insulator to prevent the outward movement of the terminal, a ring surroundingthe terminal above said shoulders, said ring having a polygonal aperture and the terminal having a polygonal portion adapted to fit said aperture, said insulator having a recess above said ring and sald ring being provided with downwardly extending projections ada ted to fit in corresponding recesses forme packing above said ring, an annular member above the packing having a threaded COI1I1C tion with the end portion of the terminal, said annular member having a flange provided with recesses to form wrench sockets,

.ed to cooperate with the shoulder on the tubular casing, a ring surrounding said terminal above said shoulders, said ring havlng a polygonally shaped aperture and the adjacent portion of the terminal having a correspondingly formed polygonal portion to cooperate with said ring to prevent rotation of said terminal, and means for holding said ring against rotation.

9. A device of the class specified, having in combination a tubular base member having an interiorly arranged downwardly facing shoulder, a terminal in said base member having outwardly extending projections provided with upwardly facing shoulders adapted to cooperate with the shoulder on the tubular casing, a ring surrounding said terminal above said shoulders, said ring having a polygonally shaped aperture and the adjacent portion of the terminal having a correspondingly formed polygonal portion to cooperate with said ring to prevent rotation of said terminal, and means for holding said ring against rotation, a second ring above the first mentioned ring, the second ring being interiorly screw threaded and the terminal being correspondingly threaded within said ring, and packing between said rings.

10. A device of the class specified, having in combination a tubular base member having an interiorly arranged, downwardly facing shoulder, a terminal in said base member having outwardly extending rojections provided with upwardly facing s oulders adapted to cooperate with the shoulder on the tubular casing, a ring surrounding said terminal above said shoulders, said ring having a Y polygonally shaped aperture and the adjacent portion of the terminal having a correspondingly formed polygonal portion to cooperate with said ring to prevent rotation of said terminal, means for holding said ring against rotation, a second ring above the first mentioned ring, the second ring being inin the insulator,

Fii

teriorly screw threaded and the terminal being correspondingly threaded within said ring, packing between said rings, and an arcing ring detachably mounted on the upper end of said terminal above said lastmentioned ring.

11. In a device of the class specified the combination with plug and socket terminals of an arcing member comprising an annular ring forming the outer end portion of said socket terminal.

12. In a device of the class specified an arcing member and a terminal member, said arcing member forming a turned-down cap for protecting the end of said terminal from arcs.

13. In a device of the class specified an arcing member and a terminal member, said arcing member having a flat portion and a curved portion whereby to cover and protect the outer end and side part of said terminal from arcs.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of December, A. D.

PAUL F. WILLIAMS. 

